< how did you start dev (for those who do)?
Hey ~tatterdemalion, thanks for posting! :)
I had an unlikely crossroads (over time) with old(er) computers and venturing into any type of development - be it web development or fussing with hardware.
In the hardware realm, it actually started with me always feeling that I was clumsy with anything "electric" related or mechanical - then I (unwisely) bought an "EGO 2.0" electronic cigarette (which are trash devices) in 2012, and from the assembly, disassembly, reassembly of that device and it's related chargers and cartomizers and atomizers, and other ephemera, I realized that I wasn't THAT "inept" at fooling with an electronic device. Then in 2015 (out of sheer boredom + personal interest) I asked my brother-in-law if he had a use for an old PC tower he had in his basement, ready to be trashed. He said I could have it, but I would either need a Windows license or put Linux on it. I said "I will figure out Linux", and after a lengthy diatribe, testimony, love-profession of Linux Mint from a friend "R" (who said he used that OS on *everything* in his life), I decided that was the distro to try. I got into the tower's BIOS settings, and was able to boot from a flash drive with Mint (16, Cinnamon (I think)) and was off to the races. Then disassembly/reassembly of that tower to swap out a power supply, then fooling with a few RPi models, and then just a general desire/fascination with hardware since.
Software and (web) development, I shared that in the initial post, haha
Now I am on the Commander X16 forum daily and seeing/learning XYZ about things, and in Jan setting up a type of "retro computing" rig, albeit with an emulation device, not authentic hardware.
In terms of CS, itself, it's a hobby for me. But one I've been fascinated with for several years now. All good fun! :)
~bartender, I'll take a Wild Cherry Pepsi, as it will match the can I have sitting next to me IRL, haha.
And one for ~tatterdemalion, or whatever beverage they prefer :D